Ancient Art - Discussion Board

Running Head : GREEK ART VERSUS ROMAN ART

Greek art versus Roman art

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Greek art versus Roman art

Ancient artworks from the Greek and Roman civilization have been celebrated in the modern world as the foundation of the concept of art today . Most of these masterpieces showcased the mastery of artists on the human body . The Doryphoros by Polykleitos is an example of early Greek sculpture while the Augustus of Primaporta is a representative of the Roman art

The Doryphoros was constructed to support

claims on the theoretical work called Canon or Rule ' The Canon states using mathematical terms that the every part of the body is connected with the entire body Polykleitos said that the detailed proportion of the head with the body is 1 /7 and most of his works particularly sculptures exuded the 'eu ' which means the the good and the perfect and 'symmetria ' denoting harmonious proportions ' In the Doryphoros , the human body was in a Chiastic pose ' wherein the weight of the body rests on one foot while the other is slightly bend in perfect rest ' A counterbalance between the tensed and relaxed parts of the body ' were shown (Ellen Papakyriakou /Anagnostou , 1998 , Polykleitos . Many details were also incorporated like the muscle definitions of the chest and abdominal area that made the figure appear life-like rendition of the human body

Meanwhile , the sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta was produced to illustrate Augustus ' military supremacy who was a Roman emperor . But many historians also believe that the statue was made to commemorate the victory of the Romans over the Parthians . Unlike other Roman leaders Augustus was depicted as a mere man and not the traditional deified god (Ramage , 2005 , Historical Reflection on the Statue . This statue also used the principles proportion of the Doryphoros . Many details were very evident in the sculpture . The broad head had Primaporta styled hair , full close mouth , keen ridged eyebrows , smooth round chin and pointed nose highlighted . Augustus ' breastplate was designed with intricate graphical details and his hand was in an upright position to demonstrate authority . Meanwhile , the robe indicated the godliness of Augustus and the cupid riding a dolphin emphasized the divinity of the founder of Venus and Italy namely the Julian family to Aeneas (Ramage of the Statue

References

Ellen Papakyriakou /Anagnostou (1998 . Polykleitos . Retrieved June 19 2008 , from http /www .sikyon .com /sicyon /Polykleitos /polycl_egpg1 .html

Ramage (October 2005 . of the Statue . Retrieved June 19 2008 , from http /web .mit .edu /21h .402 /www /primaporta

Ramage (October 2005 . Historical Reflection on the Statue . Retrieved June 19 , 2008 , from http /web .mit .edu /21h .402 /www /primaporta /context /reflection

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